Saturday, November 29, 2008

First Snow...Finally


So its the end of December and we finally woke up to our first snow. It was gorgeous. But in typical Denver fashion its almost all melted and not so pretty anymore.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Photographing Your Home

Shutter Sisters has a great post about whether you need to travel anywhere to find the muse or if you can find it right in your backyard. Its something I struggle with all the time. Every weekend I say I am going to pack up the car, the dog, the camera and head out. Every weekend I end up saying NEXT weekend I am going to....

As they say in the article, based on Bob's post last year at No Traces it is true some of my most popular photos were taken inside my home or in the near vicinity of it. I wonder why that is. Is it the fact that in your own surroundings you are more comfortable and confident? Not so afraid to get belly down on the ground in front of your family or the neighbors. More willing to try something different.

Here are a few of my "from home" shots...

Taken last Valentines Day from some flowers my neices brought me.


IMG_9074, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Taken last weekend as the sole remaining leaf strives to hold on to its home


158, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Tea time

029, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

So show me your favorite home shots! Oh and the first comment receives an 8x8 of the macro photo above!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Tree Lighting

Last night my friends who run Cafe of Life Chiropractic asked if I would come in and do photos of the kids as a way to draw people in. What an honor and a blast! Here are a couple of the many adorable little sprites I got to interact with last night. Parents don't forget to go check out your pics. The photos will only be up for 2 weeks.









Friday, November 21, 2008

Food Friday

In honor of the gorgeous photos and post over at Shutter Sisters. I deem today Food Friday. Since the greatest food holiday of all times is just around the corner its perfect timing.
I love food. I love to eat it and cook it. I love the textures, the smells, the sights and even the sounds. I also love the heritage that food brings to us. And the way that food can be used to bring people together. The importance of the family meal in training your children. The camaraderie of a great girls night out complete with decadent dessert. The way that the food of your childhood can comfort you and the way that trying new food can ignite passionate response (good and bad).

I also love to photograph food...here are a few of food photos and you can view more in my food gallery.



IMG_4904, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.




IMG_9050, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.




new york 331, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.




IMG_8910, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Post it Like you Stole It...

Which I did...from this amazing blog that I am addicted to:

You are supposed to bold the things you've done on the list:


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band (Does the french horn in 5th grade count?)

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland (been to Disneyworld, does that count?)

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I've seen the Statue of Liberty...but wouldn't wait in the lines to see it)

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language (un petite peu (a little french does that count)

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David (I was in Florence but I would not wait in the lines to see it)

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (I've been to the Eiffel Tower - would not wait in the line to go up)

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (can't remember if I did this in Berlin or not)

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book (I self published a photo book...does that count?)

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House (I've seen the outside and taken its picture but never been inside)

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day


This list made me realize a LOT...1) I really have had quite an extraordinary life to have been able to do over half of the things on this list...and honestly some of the ones I haven't done...I don't think I want to (Been involved in a lawsuit, killed and prepared my own animal to eat).

I also realized that when it comes to my siteseeing I am impatient as all get out. I go to the place, photograph it, but never actually experience what the tourists are there to experience. Anyone else do this?

Here are some photos from the experiences I've had:

12 & 50 (AND PROOF OF 19)



38.
86.



70.

94.






Monday, November 17, 2008

New Options for your Shoot

I am getting ready to reveal a total new offering: Choose your Look.

Choose your look will offer you 6 different post-processing options based on my favorite places around the world: California, Colorado, New York, Paris, London and Florence.

In addition to the post processing options, there will be 4 location options: Country/Botanic, Urban, Rustic and Modern. I'm location shopping right now.

Stay tuned!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

I photographed this little spitfire while I was in Paris. She is a hoot and a half. She is an artist at 4, complete with her own easel and style. Her dad is also an artist and they have time together where the paint. As a thank you for taking her picture she gave me one of her paintings. Even though there was a HUGE language barrier the shots I captured that day show that the human connection goes far beyond words!


Posted by Picasa

Saturday, November 15, 2008

I Want...

I want to attend this conference so bad...

FROM AUDREY WOULARD'S BLOG

Registration opens Saturday, Nov 15 at noon EST. Update: as of 12:20, 40 out of 60 spots are full! Because Learnfest '08 was such a HUGE success, I am so happy to announce Learnfest '09 with my wonderful co-presenters, Lena Hyde, Laura Novak and Tamara Lackey. This workshop is sure to sell out extremely fast! You can view more details on the the Learnfest Website and be sure to see "the buzz" section for what our '08 attendees are saying! The program was aptly named, built as a true learnfest for portrait photographers who are ready to take their business to the next creative and strategic level. Join us for an amazing 3-day/3-night learnfest that runs from April 6-9, 2009 at picturesque, Chateau Elan, located in the serene and picturesque Georgia countryside, just 40 minutes from the Atlanta airport. Experience in-depth instruction on shooting, post-production, marketing, business strategy, revenue generation, and studio and daily workflow. Redefine what success can mean in the portrait photography business. Interact in small groups of 15, meeting with each instructor throughout the course of 3 days as part of an overall program that is tailored to deliver a comprehensive leaning experience for the portrait photographer. Network with other photographers from around the world, in addition to the hosts, in an environment built to encourage sharing and connection. And offer yourself the opportunity to completely focus on imporoving your skills, your business, and your future in photography in an invironment that fully encourages you to step away from the pace of every day work/life. Given the high level of interest we've received to date, we expect all spaces to sell our quickly again this year, so if this does sound like a fit for you, we'd encourage you mark yor calendar for November 15th when we open resistration!


here's hoping the graphic design and photography businesses pick up SOON - like in the next 10 minutes since registration is already almost full! Maybe next year.

Flower Fridays: Fuji Mum

I love photographing flowers...the colors, the details, the unique shapes. Everything about it makes me happy. They even pose themselves and never have a bad day :)

Here's a shot I took this week for Cafe of Life's new website and advertising pieces. I love these Fuji Mums...especially this green color!

So show me your favorite shot from this week!


Friday, November 14, 2008

Baby Love: Jack

This sweet little boy…what a joy. His parents are my neighbors and they make the lovliest little family. I was so honored to be able to do these shots since I also did her maternity shoot. Here are some sneak peeks from the Saturday’s shoot.